Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor treatment of medical disorders

Abstract

The invention pertains to methods and compositions for treating medical disorders characterized by elevated levels or abnormal expression of TNFα by administering a TNFα antagonist, such as recombinant TNFR:Fc.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a human patient suffering from a hereditary condition comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TNFα inhibitor, wherein the hereditary condition is selected from the group consisting of Gaucher's disease, Huntington's disease, linear IgA disease, and muscular dystrophy.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hereditary condition is linear IgA disease.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the TNFR:Fc is administered by subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the TNFR:Fc is administered at least about once a week.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a single dose of TNFR:Fc contains from 5 milligrams to 100 milligrams of TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a single dose of TNFR:Fc contains about 25 milligrams of TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a single dose of TNFR:Fc contains about 50 milligrams of TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is an antibody that binds to TNFα.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the antibody is administered by subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the antibody is administered by infusion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is administered concurrently with a drug selected from the group consisting of: azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, methotrexate, leflunomide, minocycline, penicillamine, sulfasalazine and gold compounds such as oral gold, gold sodium thiomalate, and aurothioglucose.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is administered concurrently with methotrexate.  
     
     
         14 . A method for treating a human patient suffering from a neurological condition comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TNFα inhibitor, wherein the neurological condition is selected from the group consisting of Guillain-Barre syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and Bell's palsy.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a single dose of TNFR:Fc contains from 5 milligrams to 100 milligrams of TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is a human or humanized antibody against TNFα.  
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a human patient suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble TNF receptor.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the soluble TNF receptor is TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         20 . A method for treating a human patient suffering from renal failure comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a soluble TNF receptor.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the soluble TNF receptor comprises an extracellular region of p55.  
     
     
         22 . A method for treating gout in a human patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a TNFα inhibitor.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is TNFR:Fc.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the TNFα inhibitor is a human or humanized antibody that binds to TNFα.